Twenty-Four Artists Share Their Vision

New work by Gar Waterman

Tiny, magnificent, and often more outrageous than our wildest imaginings, nudibranchs are among the least recognized ocean inhabitants to the general, non-diving public. These sculptures celebrate the extraordinary colors and forms to be found in the world of opisthobranchs.

“This succulent specimen, carved in a pale green striated Afghani onyx, is modeled after the suborder Arminina nudibranch Dermatobranchus, found exclusively in the Western Pacific in deep water around the Island of Vanuatu. The oral veil, or velum, is the only feature that Arminid nudibranchs have in common. Note the suggestion of annulate rhinophores.

This and the other nudibranch sculptures whose images I have been promiscuously promulgating by email will appear in Boston this November in a special exhibit. Along with underwater photographs of the real things by some of the best u/w photographers around, the exhibit will be a part of the award ceremony for the Pinedo Award, a very prestigious event attended by many of the CEO’s of the world’s biggest pharmaceutical companies. The Pinedo Award is given annually to an individual for achievement in translational oncology. In the world of cancer related medicine, it is one of the highest awards out there. For those of you who might be wondering what the connection is, many nudibranchs are highly toxic, their aposematic coloring serving to warn away predators. Their toxins are the subject of research in the development of drugs to treat cancer and a number of other diseases, so the nudibranch you see just might one day save your life.

Following the Pinedo Award event, the sculptures and photographs will become part of an exhibit that will travel to Science Museums and Aquaria here and abroad. A spotlight will shine on these exquisite creatures, and the exhibit’s unique mix of art and science will seek to add its voice to a critical call for marine conservation and the importance of maintaining biodiversity.”